Chocolate Martini

Dive into the rich creamy bliss of this Chocolate Martini recipe! This decadent cocktail blends rich chocolate liqueur, vodka, and…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Dive into the rich creamy bliss of this Chocolate Martini recipe! This decadent cocktail blends rich chocolate liqueur, vodka, and Baileys for a flavor explosion.

Chocolate Martini recipe

Looking for a cocktail to please a chocoholic? Try this chocolate martini recipe! This drink is rich and creamy, basically a dessert in a glass. It stars Irish cream and creme de cacao for maximum flavor, like the liquid version of your favorite chocolate bar. Mix this up as an after dinner drink to impress guests, or anytime you need a sweet treat in cocktail form. You’ll be smitten, we promise!

Chocolate martini ingredients

The chocolate martini is a vodka martini made with Irish cream and a chocolate liqueur or syrup. Legend has it that the classic Chocolate Martini was invented by Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor in 1955 while filming the Hollywood classic movie Giant together, adding chocolate syrup and chocolate liqueur to the vodka martini. 

It’s become a concept that all bartenders riff on, so there’s no “official” definition like the Espresso Martini. You’ll find chocolate martinis with just vodka and chocolate liqueur, but many add chocolate syrup, Baileys Irish cream, or other ingredients. Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this chocolate martini recipe:

  • 2 oz Irish cream (like Baileys)
  • 1 oz creme de cacao or other chocolate liqueur
  • 1 oz vodka

Preparing the glass

The chocolate martini is all about presentation! For decorating the glass, there are three different elements you can add to maximize the visual and flavor impact:

  • Chocolate syrup: Drizzle chocolate syrup into the inside of a martini glass in a swirl pattern.
  • Cocoa powder and brown sugar: Wet the rim of a martini glass, then dip and rotate it in a plate of 1 tablespoon each cocoa powder and brown sugar. This adds a chocolaty crunch to each sip. Another option is drawing a circle of chocolate syrup on a plate and dipping in the rim.
  • Grated chocolate: If desired, top the drink with grated chocolate (optional).
Creme de cacao

What’s creme de cacao?

Creme de cacao might not be something you’re used to stocking in your liquor cabinet. It’s most famous for its use in the Brandy Alexander and the Grasshopper, but it’s also popular in a chocolate martini!

  • Creme de cacao is a cocoa bean flavored liqueur, available in both white (clear) and dark varieties. It’s one of the older alcoholic beverages, made in the 1600’s by monks after cocoa beans were brought back to Europe from America.
  • What does creme de cacao taste like? White creme de cacao, the clear variety, tastes like milk chocolate with notes of vanilla.
  • Is it worth buying Creme de cacao costs between $10 to $20 for a 750 ml bottle. It’s worth buying if you like sweet cocktails! You can use leftovers to make creme de cacao drinks like the Brandy Alexander, Grasshopper, or Bushwacker.
Chocolate martini recipe

More about Irish cream

Irish cream is a liqueur made with Irish whiskey and cream. The most popular Irish cream is Baileys, but there are other brands of Irish cream (we used a different brand for this recipe). The most popular Irish cream cocktail is the Mudslide, which is a variant of the classic creamy White Russian.

How to make a chocolate martini

Got those specialty liquors? Then you’re good to go! There are lots of ways to make a chocolate martini recipe, like with melted chocolate or chocolate syrups. This one works well with just straight up cocoa powder. Here’s what to do:

  • Shake in a cocktail shaker: Add 2 oz Baileys, 1 oz vodka and 1 oz creme de cacao into a cocktail shaker and add 2 handfuls of ice. Shake 15 seconds until cold.
  • Strain and garnish. That’s it! Strain it into the prepared martini glass and garnish with a little grated chocolate.

More martinis

There are so many more flavored types of martinis to try! Here are some of our favorites:

When to serve a chocolate martini

The chocolate martini recipe works before dinner, after dinner, or anytime in between. Serve it as a:

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Chocolate Martini recipe

Best Chocolate Martini


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink

Description

Dive into the rich creamy bliss of this Chocolate Martini recipe! This decadent cocktail blends rich chocolate liqueur, vodka, and Baileys for a flavor explosion.


Ingredients

  • 2 ounces* Irish cream (like Baileys)
  • 1 ounce creme de cacao
  • 1 ounce vodka
  • 1 tablespoon each cocoa powder and brown sugar, for the rim (optional)
  • Chocolate syrup, for the glass
  • Grated chocolate, for the garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Wet the rim of a martini glass. Spread 1 tablespoon each cocoa powder and brown sugar on a plate, stir them together and spread into a single layer. Dip the outside of the rim of the glass into the plate. If desired, pour a swirl of chocolate syrup into the martini glass.
  2. Add the Irish cream, creme de cacao and vodka to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with 2 handfuls of ice and shake it until cold.
  3. Strain the drink into the prepared glass. If desired, garnish with grated chocolate.

Notes

*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Shaken
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Chocolate martini, chocolate martini recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Espresso Martini

The Espresso Martini is a classic cocktail made with coffee, Kahlua, and vodka. Smooth and creamy, it’s the perfect pick-me-up…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

The Espresso Martini is a classic cocktail made with coffee, Kahlua, and vodka. Smooth and creamy, it’s the perfect pick-me-up for any occasion! Here’s how to make it.

Espresso Martini in cocktail glass topped with 3 coffee beans

Oh hello, Espresso Martini. This 1980’s cocktail vaulted back into popularity in 2021, and it’s easy to see why. Bittersweet coffee pairs perfectly with the rich sweetness of Kahlua. Add vodka and the trio makes a full-flavored sophisticated drink that’s cool, frothy, and bittersweet. Here at A Couple Cooks, we’re home cocktail experts with over 300 cocktail recipes in our library, and this one’s a fast favorite.

Espresso Martini ingredients

The Espresso Martini is a vodka martini made with coffee that was invented in 1983. Bartender Dick Bradsell at the Soho Brasserie in London created the drink for a patron who asked for a drink to wake her up. Apparently the coffee machine was right next to the drink station, and the Espresso Martini was born. The name came in the 1990’s when flavored martinis were all the rage.

There are lots of variations on exactly how to make this Espresso Martini recipe. The original version had two types of coffee liqueur and simple syrup. Today it varies based on on the bartender. This cocktail is on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails, meaning that it has an “official” definition. The ingredients in an Espresso Martini are:

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 1 oz Kahlua or coffee liqueur
  • 1 oz espresso or strong coffee
  • ½ oz simple syrup (optional)
Espresso Martini in cocktail glass

How to make an Espresso Martini

The only part about an Espresso Martini that takes some time is making the coffee. Luckily, you don’t have to wait for it to cool. Wait a few minutes until it’s warm, then shake it up. Here’s how to make a coffee martini:

  • Make 1 shot (1 oz) espresso using an espresso maker (or French Press). Alternatively, you can make a very strong cup of coffee and use 2 tablespoons. Place the coffee in the freezer until room temperature. 
  • Place the espresso, 2 oz vodka, 1 oz Kahula, and ½ oz simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
  • Add 1 handful ice and shake until cold.
  • Strain into a martini glass. Top with coffee beans, the traditional garnish.

An Espresso martini without simple syrup

Many Espresso Martini recipes have simple syrup, but the extra sweetener actually isn’t necessary. The cocktail is sweet enough with the Kahlua alone. Here are a few notes about the sweetness in this drink:

  • Simple syrup rounds out the flavors and makes for a balanced, sweet drink. Even though we’re not big sweet cocktail fans, we like this one with the added simple syrup.
  • For a less sweet spin, use ¼ oz simple syrup, which still lets the flavors shine.
  • Or, make an Espresso Martini recipe with no simple syrup. Kahlua has added sugar, so combining it with vodka and espresso still makes for a sweet and balanced drink.
Coffee

Coffee making methods

To add the coffee element to an Espresso Martini, there are a few different coffee making methods. For espresso, you can use an espresso machine or portable espresso maker to make an espresso shot. You can also use non-traditional tools like making French press espresso.

Don’t have an espresso maker? Simply make strong coffee using double the grounds of your regular method. You can also use a Moka Pot (Bialetti) to make strong coffee that has a flavor in between espresso and coffee.

You can also make an Espresso Martini using cold brew concentrate, either purchased or homemade. This has the added benefit of already being chilled! The concentrate is very strong and has a similar flavor to espresso (make sure not to water it down before using).

Does an Espresso Martini have caffeine?

Yes! This coffee martini has caffeine from the coffee and the Kahlua. The espresso contributes 64 mg caffeine and the Kahlua 2.5 mg, for a total of about 66 mg in this drink. This is about 70% the amount of caffeine in 1 cup of coffee (95 mg).

Kahlua bottle

More about Kahlua

Kahlua is a pretty widely known liqueur…but what actually is it made of? Here’s what to know about this coffee liqueur:

  • Kahlua is a coffee liqueur that’s made in Mexico. It’s made with rum, sugar and coffee. It does have some caffeine, but only about 25% as much as the same volume of coffee. The standard Kahlua is dairy-free, vegan and plant-based: it contains only rum, sugar and coffee.
  • How much does Kahlua cost? It costs about $20 per bottle.
  • What are some substitutes for Kahlua? You can also use other types of coffee liqueur, like Tia Maria or Sheridan’s.
  • What other cocktails use Kahlua? Use it to make Kahlua drinks like the White Russian, Black Russian or Mudslide.
Espresso martini in cocktail glass with coffee beans

More coffee cocktails

Are you into spiked coffee? Boozy coffee drinks combine the beautiful bittersweet flavor of coffee into fantastic mixed drinks. Here are some of our favorite coffee cocktails:

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Espresso Martini

Espresso Martini


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink

Description

The Espresso Martini is a classic cocktail made with coffee, Kahlua, and vodka. Smooth and creamy, it’s the perfect pick-me-up for any occasion! Here’s how to make it.


Ingredients


Instructions

  1. Make the espresso or strong coffee. Place it in the freezer until room temperature. 
  2. Add the vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Shake vigorously until cold.
  3. Strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with coffee beans.

Notes

*Simple syrup rounds out the flavors and makes for a balanced, sweet drink. For a less sweet spin, you can use ¼ oz or make an Espresso Martini without simple syrup entirely.

To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons. 

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Shaken
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Espresso martini, espresso martini recipe

More vodka martini recipes

Flavored martinis are a modern invention: built on the vodka martini. Most of them drop the vermouth…so they’re hardly a Classic Martini at all! Here are some of our favorite flavored martini recipes:

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Christmas Mule

This Christmas Moscow mule cocktail is perfect for entertaining! It takes just minutes to pour it together in a mug.…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This Christmas Moscow mule cocktail is perfect for entertaining! It takes just minutes to pour it together in a mug.

Christmas Mule

Need a Christmas cocktail that’s quick and easy? Try the Christmas Moscow mule! This spin on the classic Moscow mule is a zingy, festive combination of cranberry juice, vodka, peppermint schnaps and ginger beer. It’s so simple you can build it right in the glass, no cocktail shakers required! Say hello to your new favorite holiday drink.

Ingredients in a Christmas Moscow mule

The classic Moscow Mule is one of the most popular cocktails of all time, invented in the 1940’s. This combination of vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer is always served in a copper mug. The Christmas spin on the classic has cranberry juice for a seasonal flavor and color, and peppermint for holiday flair. Though they’re an unexpected combination, the mint, berry and ginger all work incredibly well together! The ingredients you’ll need for a Christmas Moscow mule are:

  • Vodka
  • Peppermint schnapps
  • 100% all natural cranberry juice (no sugar added)
  • Ginger beer
  • Simple syrup
Christmas Moscow mule

Cranberry juice cocktail vs 100% cranberry juice

For cranberry cocktail recipes we prefer using 100% all natural cranberry juice instead of sweetened juice. This makes a pure, super tart berry flavor that you can then sweeten to taste. It also makes a brilliant red color (which is hard to see in a mule in a mug, but it’s there!). Here’s what to know about the difference between the two products:

  • 100% all natural cranberry juice is all juice: it’s not sweetened like bottles labeled “cranberry juice” or “cranberry juice cocktail.” This gives it a pure, tart flavor and a dark red color. It’s preferable because then you can add sweetness to the drink to taste, while amping up the berry flavor.
  • Cranberry juice is typically sweetened, especially if it’s labeled as cranberry juice cocktail. It’s lighter in color and still tastes good, but the flavor isn’t as pure. Try to find 100% juice if at all possible.

How to make a Christmas mule (basic steps)

The Moscow mule is one of the easiest drinks for entertaining because you can build the drink right in the glass. There’s no need to dirty a cocktail shaker or a strainer: just pour each ingredient right in! Here’s how to make a Christmas mule:

  1. Pour 1 ounce each vodka, cranberry juice, and peppermint schnapps, into a copper mug or serving glass of your choice. Add ½ tablespoon
  2. Top with 4 ounces ginger beer.
  3. Add ice and serve. If desired, garnish with a rosemary sprig and a peppermint stick.
Christmas Mule

Use copper mugs, or any type of mug

Traditionally, a Moscow Mule is always served in a copper mug. Placing the cold drink in a copper mug makes an ice cold rim, which makes the drink taste even colder. It’s so satisfying! Of course, you can use any type of mug for a Christmas mule.

Copper mugs make great gifts, so it’s a fun gift idea for the cocktail lover in your life. Here’s a link to some solid copper mugs on Amazon.

Garnishes for a Christmas mule

This Christmas Moscow mule is at its finest with a fun garnish or two! Here are a few ways to garnish this drink for best presentation:

  • Rosemary sprigs
  • Peppermint stick
  • Fresh cranberries
  • Cinnamon stick

More Christmas cocktails

Looking for more fun drinks for the season? Here are a few ideas for Christmas cocktails:

This Christmas Moscow mule is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Christmas Mule

Christmas Mule


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 minutes
  • Yield: 1d rink

Description

This Christmas Moscow mule cocktail is perfect for entertaining! It takes just minutes to pour it together in a mug.


Ingredients

  • 1 ounce vodka
  • 1 ounce peppermint schnapps
  • 1 ounces 100% all natural cranberry juice
  • ½ tablespoon simple syrup (omit if using sweetened cranberry juice*)
  • 4 ounces ginger beer
  • For the garnish: Rosemary sprig, peppermint stick (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a copper mug or glass, pour in the vodka, cranberry juice, peppermint schnapps, and simple syrup. Add the ginger beer.
  2. Add ice and garnish with a rosemary sprig and peppermint stick, if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

*100% cranberry juice has no sugar added. If using cranberry juice cocktail, omit the simple syrup. You can also add the simple syrup to taste if you prefer a more tart drink.

**Tip: For advanced prep, pour together the 8x the recipe in a pitcher. Then pour a little over 3 ounces in each glass and top with 4 ounces ginger beer.

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stirred
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Cranberry mule, Cranberry moscow mule, christmas mule cocktail

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

40 Great Thanksgiving Cocktails

These Thanksgiving cocktails celebrate the flavors of the season! Try drinks starring apple, pomegranate, and cranberry and more. Thanksgiving is…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

These Thanksgiving cocktails celebrate the flavors of the season! Try drinks starring apple, pomegranate, and cranberry and more.

Thanksgiving cocktails, Thanksgiving drinks

Thanksgiving is full of traditions: and why not add a signature drink? This holiday is all about the food, but the paired drinks are just as memorable. Here at A Couple Cooks we’re cocktail experts, with a repertoire of over 300 cocktails. We reviewed the list and these top Thanksgiving cocktails for celebrating the holiday in style!

Fall flavors are ripe for creating drinks that evoke those cozy fall feelings. Ingredients that feature in Thanksgiving drinks are apple cider, pomegranate, cranberry, bourbon, and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.

Want Thanksgiving cocktails by liquor? Try Fall Bourbon Cocktails or Fall Vodka Cocktails.

And now…the top Thanksgiving cocktails and drinks!

Non-alcoholic Thanksgiving drinks

Don’t drink alcohol, or want something for the kids? There are lots of great options for Thanksgiving drinks that aren’t cocktails! Here are some of our top fall drinks that work when entertaining:

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Thanksgiving cocktails

40 Great Thanksgiving Cocktails


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1

Description

Thanksgiving cocktails celebrate the flavors of the season! Try drinks starring apple, pomegranate, and cranberry and more.


Ingredients

  • 1 ½ ounces* tequila reposado or blanco
  • 2 ounces apple cider
  • ¾ ounce Triple Sec or Cointreau
  • ¾ ounce fresh lime juice
  • Cinnamon and sugar, for the rim
  • Ice, for serving (try clear ice!)
  • Star anise and cinnamon stick, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of cinnamon and sugar.
  2. Single drink: Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Shake until cold. Strain the margarita into the glass with the sugar rim. Fill the glass with ice and serve.
  3. Pitcher (8 servings): Place 1 ½ cups tequila, 2 cups apple cider, ¾ cup Triple Sec or Cointreau, and ¾ cup lime juice in a pitcher. Add 3 handfuls ice and stir until cold. Prepare the glasses separately, then add 2/3 cup to each glass and garnish with ice.

Notes

*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Shaken
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Thanksgiving cocktails, Thanksgiving drinks

More Thanksgiving resources

We’ve got a full suite of Thanksgiving resources to help you plan for this holiday! Whether it’s mains, sides, appetizers, or desserts: we’ve got you covered! Here are a few lists of recipes:

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Halloween Sangria

This Halloween Sangria recipe is a spooky drink that’s ideal for parties! Whip up a pitcher to impress everyone. Looking…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This Halloween Sangria recipe is a spooky drink that’s ideal for parties! Whip up a pitcher to impress everyone.

Halloween Sangria

Looking for a spooky drink to impress? Try this Halloween Sangria! We are all about scary Halloween cocktails, and this one is a new favorite. Pair red wine with cinnamon sugar, fruit and sparkling cider for a tasty drink that everyone will love! The best part? Rim the glasses with DIY colored sugar and top with fun cocktail picks. The flavor is pure, bold, and lightly cinnamon spiced: and we’ve got two variations for a sweeter or more dry drink!

What you need for Halloween sangria

Sangría is a traditional wine punch that originates from Spain. The classic version is made with red wine and chopped fruit, and often orange juice or brandy. Many American spins add loads of sugar to this drink, which is traditionally quite dry and nuanced. This Halloween sangria is in the style of the traditional Spanish drink, but we’ve got a variation that is a little sweeter for those who like sweeter drinks. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

  • Apple
  • Blood oranges
  • Granulated sugar
  • Cinnamon
  • Dry red wine, such as Rioja
  • Sparkling cider (dry variation) or ginger ale (sweet variation)
  • Ice, for serving
  • Colored sugar and Halloween cocktail picks, for the garnish (optional)
Halloween sangria

How to make sangria…the Spanish way

This Halloween sangria method is inspired by our favorite Spanish chef, Jose Andres. Chef Andres is from Spain and started many successful restaurants here in the US. Per Chef Andres, the “Spanish” way to make this wine punch this:

  • Macerate fruit for 20 minutes: Mix the sangria fruit with sugar and let it macerate or stand at room temperature and break down. This helps the fruit flavors permeate the wine even more.
  • Add liquids: Add the red wine.
  • Refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours. This allows the flavors to meld and develop.
  • Serve with bubbles. Traditional Spanish sangria uses soda water, but here you’ll add sparkling cider or ginger ale to the glass when serving!

Ways to customize the sweetness

Our addition to the Spanish sangria formula? When serving, mix the red wine mixture with sparkling apple cider or ginger ale. This sweetens the drink and adds bubbles! The sparkling apple cider makes for a dry flavor, whereas the ginger ale makes for a sweeter drink.

Another way to customize the sweetness? Use a fruity sweet red wine instead of a dry red wine.

Halloween sangria

Halloween sangria drink garnishes

The best part of this Halloween sangria? The drink garnishes! You can use the ones we’ve used here, or get creative with some of your own ideas. Here’s what we did:

  • Make DIY colored sugar. A colored sugar rim makes the look! Use purchased sugar or go to our DIY colored sugar tutorial for instructions. We made both orange and purple for a festive look!
  • Use an orange slice and festive cocktail picks. These Halloween cocktail picks (aka cupcake toppers) really set the tone! We used a blood orange slice to fasten our cocktail picks. If you can’t find them, a regular orange works just as well!

This Halloween sangria is perfect for parties because it makes a big pitcher to share. Try it out, or try a Halloween margarita pitcher if you’re a tequila lover!

Halloween sangria

More Halloween drinks

Want more ideas for spooky drinks? Here are a few Halloween cocktails we love:

This Halloween sangria recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Halloween Sangria

Halloween Sangria


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Rest Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8

Description

This Halloween Sangria recipe is a spooky drink that’s ideal for parties! Whip up a pitcher to impress everyone.


Ingredients

  • 1 apple
  • 2 blood oranges, plus 2 more for garnish
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 750 ml bottle dry red wine, such as Rioja
  • 1 750 ml bottle sparkling cider (or ginger ale for a sweeter sangria)
  • Ice, for serving
  • For the garnish: colored sugar, Halloween cocktail picks (optional)

Instructions

  1. Thinly slice the apple and orange. Place them into a medium bowl and stir in the sugar and cinnamon. Transfer to a large pitcher. Allow to stand for 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
  2. Pour in the red wine. Stir and refrigerate for 1 hour, or as long as 4 hours. (Don’t go beyond 4 hours or the fruit texture starts to degrade.)
  3. If desired, place colored sugar on a plate, wet the rims of the glasses, and dip them into the sugar (DIY or purchased; we made orange and purple).
  4. To serve, fill a glass with ice. Fill halfway with sparkling apple cider, then halfway with red wine mixture (or you can pour them both together in a pitcher). Or, add the wine mixture to a glass and top off with ginger ale. 
  5. Garnish with blood orange slices and Halloween cocktail picks. When you’ve polished off the sangria, you can snack on the sweetened fruit.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Halloween sangria, Halloween sangria recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Halloween Margarita

This Halloween Margarita is the best drink for the season! Whip up single cocktails or a pitcher for a spooky…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This Halloween Margarita is the best drink for the season! Whip up single cocktails or a pitcher for a spooky evening.

Halloween Margarita

Here’s a drink that screams spooky fun: the Halloween Margarita! It might look scary, but it tastes like a dream, made with a spiced apple cider syrup, fresh lime and tequila. It’s tangy and a little sweet, balancing the lime and tequila perfectly. Make it as a single drink, or whip up a pitcher for a party! The glass garnishes take it over the top, like DIY black colored sugar, blood oranges, and a few spiders (of course!).

What you need for Halloween margaritas

If you love Halloween like we do, you’ll absolutely love this drink! This Halloween margarita is ideal for parties because you can whip up single drinks to order or make a big pitcher. The flavor is perfectly spiced and nuanced, tangy sweet from the apple cider syrup balanced with the bite of the tequila. It’s absolutely worth whipping up the syrup in advance because it infuses major flavor without watering down the drink. Here are the components you’ll need for a Halloween margarita:

Apple cider syrup

Making the apple cider syrup

Apple cider syrup is essential for the flavor in this drink! Apple cider on its own waters down cocktails instead of adding flavor. Making the syrup is what infuses major flavor into the drink, while still allowing the tequila and lime to shine through. Here’s what to know about apple cider syrup:

  • It takes 30 minutes to make. Simply boil apple cider with sugar and a cinnamon stick for about 30 minutes on the stovetop, until reduced and syrupy.
  • Make a batch in advance. This is an easy component to make in advance and refrigerate until serving. It stores up to 2 weeks refrigerated.
  • Make a double batch for a pitcher. If you’re making 8 drinks, make a double batch of the syrup!
Halloween Margarita

Halloween margarita drink garnishes

The best part of a Halloween margarita? The drink garnishes! You can get creative with your own ideas, or you can use what we’ve made up here. Here’s what to know:

  • Make DIY colored sugar. Turns out, you don’t have to go out and buy drink sugar. You can make your own! Go to our DIY colored sugar tutorial and follow the instructions for the black sugar. Or, you can make different colors like orange or purple!
  • If you prefer, make a salt rim. It also tastes great with a salt rim. (In theory, you could use the same instructions as the colored sugar for salt: we just haven’t tried it! You’ll want to use flaky or kosher salt, not fine salt.)
  • Use an orange slice and festive cocktail picks. These Halloween cocktail picks (aka cupcake toppers) really set the tone! We used a blood orange slice to fasten our cocktail picks, because Halloween! But if you can’t find them, a regular orange will do.

Notes on clear ice

While it’s not required, clear ice is the final component that makes for the best Halloween Margarita! Clear ice is crystal clear ice that makes a drink look like it came from a fancy bar. You can cut it into large, organic chunks to take your cocktails to the next level.

Colored sugar

Make a Halloween margarita pitcher for a party

If you’re having a Halloween party, make a Halloween margarita pitcher! It’s easy to make 8 drinks at once and comes together quickly. See the instructions in the recipe below.

Party tip: Make sure to have all your drink rims and garnishes prepped in advance. Then you can add ice and pour in the drinks directly before serving. Avoid placing the ice in the glass beforehand, since the melting ice can cause the food coloring in the colored sugar to melt.

Halloween margaritas

More Halloween drinks

Want more ideas for spooky drinks? Here are a few Halloween cocktails we love:

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Halloween Margarita

Halloween Margarita


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Syrup Prep: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: N/A
  • Total Time: 39 minute
  • Yield: 1 drink

Description

This Halloween Margarita is the best drink for the season! Whip up single cocktails or a pitcher for a spooky evening.


Ingredients

For the Halloween margarita

For the apple cider syrup (makes ¾ cup)

  • 4 cups apple cider
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 4 cinnamon sticks

Instructions

  1. Make the apple cider syrup: Place the apple cider, granulated sugar and cinnamon sticks in a saucepan. Bring to a low boil, then maintain a low boil for 30 to 35 minutes until reduced to ¾ cup. Use immediately or refrigerate until using (stores up to 2 weeks refrigerated).
  2. Prepare the glass: Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of salt or black colored sugar.
  3. Make a single drink: Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes and shake until cold.
  4. Serve: Strain the margarita into the glass with the salted rim. Fill the glass with clear ice. If desired, garnish with a blood orange slice and Halloween cocktail picks.
  5. For a margarita pitcher (8 servings): Place 2 cups tequila, 1 cup apple cider syrup (make 1.5 or 2 times the recipe above!) and ½ cup lime juice in a pitcher. Add 3 handfuls ice and stir until cold. Pour into the prepared glasses.

Notes

 

  • Category: Cocktail
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Halloween margarita

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Fall Margarita

Jump into the season with a fall margarita! The combination of tequila, fresh lime, and spiced apple cider syrup can’t…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Jump into the season with a fall margarita! The combination of tequila, fresh lime, and spiced apple cider syrup can’t be beat.

Fall Margarita

Here’s a fall cocktail to add to your list this season: the Fall Margarita! A spiced apple cider syrup infuses major fall nostalgia into this simple drink. Add fresh lime and tequila and it’s the season’s signature drink! Whip it up as a single drink, or make a big pitcher to share with a crowd. Either way, it’s a cocktail to impress!

Ingredients for a fall margarita

The fall margarita is a spin on the classic margarita, one of the world’s most famous cocktails. This iconic drink was mostly likely invented in Mexico in the 1930’s. Margarita means “daisy” in Spanish; the Daisy is a historic family of drinks with base liquor, orange liqueur (Triple Sec or Cointreau), lemon juice, and soda water. For the fall version of this drink, we substituted apple cider syrup for the orange liqueur and it works surprisingly well. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 2 ounces tequila reposado (or tequila blanco)
  • 1 ounce apple cider syrup
  • ½ ounce lime juice
  • For the glass: kosher salt, clear ice, and cinnamon stick or apple slices
Fall Margarita

Making apple cider syrup

The apple cider syrup is what makes this fall margarita sing! Adding apple syrup to a cocktail waters it down, but apple cider syrup infuses apple and cinnamon flavor as well as sweetness. It’s the perfect glue that holds this drink together! Here are a few things to note:

  • It takes 30 minutes to make. Boil apple cider with sugar and a cinnamon stick for 30 to 35 minutes on the stovetop, until reduced and syrupy.
  • Make a batch in advance. This is an easy component to make in advance and refrigerate until serving. It stores up to 2 weeks refrigerated.
  • Make a double batch for a pitcher. If you’re making 8 drinks, make 1.5 times or double batch of the syrup! You’ll have leftover syrup, but the single recipe makes only ¾ cup.
Apple Cider Syrup

Notes on clear ice

Clear ice is the final component for the best Fall Margarita! It’s crystal clear ice that makes your drink look like it came from a fancy bar. Cut it into large, organic chunks to take your cocktails to the next level. Here’s how to make it:

  • Use a small cooler and 24 hours. Go to How to Make Clear Ice and make a batch the night before. Once you freeze it overnight, you can cut it into chunks.
  • Alternatively, use a clear ice tray. There are now many clear ice trays and makers on the market. Try this ClearlyFrozen Home Clear Ice Maker!

Make a fall margarita pitcher

Want to make fall margaritas for a crowd? Make a fall margarita pitcher! This simple blend of the ingredients makes 8 drinks and you don’t have to dirty a cocktail shaker. Stir the following ingredients together in a pitcher, then pour into the prepared glasses:

  • 2 cups tequila
  • 1 cup apple cider syrup (make 1.5 or 2 times the recipe below!)
  • ½ cup lime juice
  • 3 handfuls ice

And that’s it! We hope you love this fall margarita recipe as much as we do! Make a big pitcher to share with friends and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Fall Margarita

More fall cocktails

We love fall drinks! Here are a few more fall cocktails to try:

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Fall Margarita

Fall Margarita


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Syrup Prep: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink

Description

Jump into the season with a fall margarita! The combination of tequila, fresh lime, and spiced apple cider syrup can’t be beat.


Ingredients

For the fall margarita

  • 2 ounces tequila reposado (or tequila blanco)
  • 1 ounce apple cider syrup (see below)
  • ½ ounce lime juice
  • For the glass: kosher saltclear ice, and cinnamon stick or apple slices (optional)

For the apple cider syrup (makes ¾ cup)

  • 4 cups apple cider
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 4 cinnamon sticks

Instructions

  1. Make the apple cider syrup: Place the apple cider, granulated sugar and cinnamon sticks in a saucepan. Bring to a low boil, then maintain a low boil for 30 to 35 minutes until reduced to ¾ cup. Use immediately or refrigerate until using (stores up to 2 weeks refrigerated).
  2. Prepare the glass: Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of salt.
  3. Make a single drink: Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes and shake until cold.
  4. Serve: Strain the margarita into the glass with the salted rim. Fill the glass with clear ice. If desired, garnish with a cinnamon stick or apple slices.
  5. For a margarita pitcher (8 servings): Place 2 cups tequila, 1 cup apple cider syrup (make 1.5 or 2 times the recipe above!) and ½ cup lime juice in a pitcher. Add 3 handfuls ice and stir until cold. Pour into the prepared glasses.
  • Category: Cocktails
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Fall margarita

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

7 Popular New Orleans Cocktails

Here are the most famous New Orleans cocktails that come from The Big Easy! This city’s cocktail culture is second…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Here are the most famous New Orleans cocktails that come from The Big Easy! This city’s cocktail culture is second to none.

Vieux Carre

There’s nothing quite like the food and wine scene in New Orleans! The Big Easy is home to some of the country’s greatest food traditions, and the cocktail culture is second to none. Several great drinks have risen to the top and solidified themselves as classics.

At A Couple Cooks, we’re cocktail experts with over 300 cocktail recipes under our belt. Here are our top most popular New Orleans cocktails to try! There’s the boozy Sazerac, with its surprising black licorice finish, centuries-old Milk Punch with its refreshing creamy sweetness, and the ever popular fruity Hurricane. Want to make them all? Let’s get started.

And now…the top New Orleans cocktails!

More cocktails

Looking for more cocktails outside of these New Orleans cocktails? Here are some of our favorite collections:

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Sazerac

7 Classic New Orleans Cocktails: Sazerac & More!


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink

Description

Here’s how to make a Sazerac, the official cocktail of New Orleans! Cognac, whiskey and absinthe make up this famous drink that tastes like no other.


Ingredients

  • 34 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
  • 1 sugar cube
  • 1 teaspoon absinthe
  • 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) Cognac
  • 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) rye whiskey
  • Lemon twist

Instructions

  1. In a mixing glass, add the sugar cube and coat it with the bitters. Muddle the sugar cube with a cocktail muddler or wooden spoon until mostly dissolved. Add the Cognac, rye whiskey and absinthe and fill the mixing glass with a handful of ice.
  2. Stir until cold. Strain the drink into a chilled low ball glass.
  3. Use a knife to remove a 1″ wide strip of the lemon peel. Squeeze the lemon peel into the drink to release the oils. Gently run the peel around the edge of the glass, then place it in the glass and serve.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stirred
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: New Orleans Cocktails

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Best Mojito

Here’s how to make a classic Mojito recipe! Mix up the original with just a few ingredients: lime juice, sugar,…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Here’s how to make a classic Mojito recipe! Mix up the original with just a few ingredients: lime juice, sugar, club soda, and rum.

Mojito

Craving a great rum cocktail? Here’s how to make one of the most popular drinks with rum: the Mojito! It’s minty fresh, zingy and bubbly, simple to whip up with just a handful of ingredients. It’s the classics we keep coming back to, even after tasting hundreds of cocktail recipes. This one is in our top 3 best drinks of all time! The harmony between the boozy rum, zingy lime, herbaceous mint, and sparkling bubbles is legendary.

Mojito ingredients

The mojito is a sour cocktail that originated in Havana, Cuba and has become one of the world’s most popular rum drinks. Some say it stems back to the 1580’s with a drink called the Draque, named after Sir Francis Drake. Others say it solidified in the mid-1800’s when the Bacardi rum company created a spin on the Draque using rum. Some think Americans brought the Mint Julep to Cuba, which spawned a variation with rum.

Whatever the case, its place as an iconic Cuban cocktail solidified by the 1930’s when Ernest Hemingway helped to popularize the drink. The Mojito ingredients include:

  • Fresh mint
  • Lime juice
  • White rum
  • Sugar
  • Sparkling water or club soda
How to make a Mojito

How to make a Mojito

The Mojito is simple to make if you’ve got a handful of mint and a fresh lime! For this drink, you’ll need a cocktail muddler, which is used to mash the mint with the lime juice and sugar. Fortunately, this drink can be made right in the glass: there’s no need for a cocktail shaker! (This is extremely handy: it makes it easy to make a drink and less mess.) Here’s how to make a Mojito:

  1. Cut 1 lime into wedges.
  2. In a medium-sized lowball glass or highball, add 6 mint leaves, lime wedges, and 2 tablespoons sugar, adding ½ lime at a a time. Muddle until lime juice is released and mint is fragrant.
  3. Add 2 ounces rum and swirl. Add a handful of ice and top with 2 ounces club soda. Stir once or twice to incorporate and garnish with additional mint and lime wedges.
Mojito Ingredients

Adjusting the sweetness

This Mojito tastes sweet and balanced with 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, which is 6 sugar cubes. But if you prefer a more tart drink, start with 1 ½ tablespoons sugar. Make sure to stir a few times so that the sugar incorporates into the drink.

You can also use simple syrup for a Mojito! Use 1 ½ ounces simple syrup, which equates to 2 tablespoons granulated sugar.

Mojito recipe

The best ice for a mojito: crushed vs cubes

One last thing about this Mojito recipe before we get to that recipe! Many purists argue over the right ice to use in this classic drink: crushed ice or cubed. In our research, we’ve found this: crushed ice melts faster. So if sparkling water is added as part of a drink, you should use ice cubes, not crushed ice that might water it down more.

Using that theory: since soda water (aka club soda) is part of the Mojito, you should use ice cubes and not crushed ice! Now you know. Of course as with any cocktail “rule”, you can break it at any time.

Mojito

Make a Mojito pitcher for a crowd

It’s simple to whip up a classic Mojito in the glass. But if you’re having a party, how do you make enough drinks for the crowd? Try a Mojito pitcher! This way you don’t have to muddle mint every time (though you can, if you’d like!).

The pitcher variation use mint syrup instead! Make a quick mint simple syrup, which infuses herbaceous fresh flavor into each drink. Go to this Mojito Pitcher Recipe.

Mojito variations

Want a few variations on the classic Mojito? Here are a few different Mojito variations to try:

This Mojito recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Mojito

The Mojito


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink

Description

Here’s how to make a classic Mojito recipe! Mix up the original with just a few ingredients: lime juice, sugar, soda water, and rum.


Ingredients

  • 6 mint leaves, plus additional for garnish
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges, plus additional for garnish
  • 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons* granulated sugar (6 sugar cubes or 1 ½ ounces simple syrup)
  • 2 ounces** white rum
  • 2 ounces soda water

Instructions

  1. In a medium-sized lowball glass or highball, add the mint, lime, and sugar, adding ½ lime at a a time. Muddle until lime juice is released and mint is fragrant.
  2. Add the rum and swirl. Add a handful of ice cubes and top with the soda water. Stir once or twice to incorporate and garnish with additional mint and lime wedges.

Notes

*For a balanced drink, use 2 tablespoons; for a less sweet drink, use 1 ½ tablespoons.

**To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons.

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Cocktail
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Mojito, mojito recipe, mojito ingredients, how to make a mojito

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Best Margarita Recipe

Here’s how to make the classic margarita recipe! It’s easy with just 3 ingredients: tequila, lime, and orange liqueur. There’s…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Here’s how to make the classic margarita recipe! It’s easy with just 3 ingredients: tequila, lime, and orange liqueur.

How to make a margarita

There’s a reason the margarita is world’s most popular tequila drink. This classic sour cocktail hits just the right balance of earthy tequila, zingy lime juice and sweet orange liqueur. Many restaurants and bars have created syrupy spins on the theme, or added flavors from mango to hibiscus. But we keep coming back to that classic formula: just 3 ingredients makes the best balanced tart and salty cocktail. Here’s how to make the best margarita!

Margarita ingredients

The margarita is one of the most popular classic cocktails in history. It was mostly likely invented in Mexico in the 1930’s (there are many competing origin stories, so the exact story is unknown). Margarita means “daisy” in Spanish and was likely a variation on the Brandy Daisy. The Daisy is a historic family of drinks with base liquor, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and soda water.

The margarita became popular during the Prohibition era, when Americans would travel to Mexico to get alcohol. It has spawned many variations that have diluted the classic way to make it. The classic margarita recipe has the following ingredients (per the definition by the International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails):

  • 1 ½ oz tequila
  • 1 oz Triple Sec or Cointreau
  • ¾ oz lime juice
Margarita

How to make a margarita

The classic margarita recipe is simple: you can make it as a single drink or as a margarita pitcher. Either way, you’ll need to allow time to prepare the glass rim and garnishes before making the drink. Here’s how to make a single drink:

  1. Rim the glass with salt. The classic margarita has a salt rim to enhances the sweet and sour flavors in the drink. Spread the salt on a plate in an even layer. Take a lime wedge, cut a notch in the middle, then slide it around the rim of the glass. Dip the outside edge of the glass in the plate of salt, then shake off any loose salt into the sink.
  2. Shake in a cocktail shaker. Place the tequila, Cointreau and lime juice in a cocktail shaker and add 4 ice cubes. Shake it until the drink is cold.
  3. Strain into a glass. Strain the drink into a glass. If serving on the rocks, add clear ice. The margarita is often served in a lowball or Old Fashioned glass, but a curved margarita glass works too.

Variation: margarita pitcher

Want to serve this margarita recipe for a crowd? The best way to make multiple margaritas at once is to make a pitcher. The margarita pitcher makes for 8 servings and you don’t need to shake up each drink separately, which is time consuming. Stir ice right into the pitcher to chill and dilute the drink. Here’s what to do:

  • Place 1 ½ cups tequila, 1 cup Cointreau or Triple Sec, and ¾ cup fresh lime juice in a pitcher.
  • Add 3 handfuls ice and stir until cold.
  • Pour into the prepared glasses. 
Margarita ingredients

Best tequila for margaritas

Many experts say tequila blanco is best for margaritas. Tequila blanco (or “new” tequila) has been aged less than 2 months and has that classic tequila burn. But tequila reposado adds an intriguing depth of flavor. Here are a few tips for picking the best tequila for margaritas:

  • Rule of thumb: any mid-priced tequila tastes great in a margarita. Look for 750 ml bottles in the range of $22 to $35. Anything cheaper isn’t worth buying.
  • Tequila reposado (aged) makes a smooth, sophisticated margarita. Tequila reposado is aged 2 to 12 months in oak barrels (reposado means “rested” in Spanish). It has a smooth flavor and notes of oak, vanilla, and caramel. Some brands we like include Casamigos, Milagro Reposado, and Suerte Reposado.
  • Tequila blanco is also ideal for margaritas. It has a straightforward agave-centric flavor and spicy finish. Some brands we recommend are Espolon Blanco, El Tesoro Blanco, Patrón Silver, and Casamigos.

Try our Casamigos Margarita or Patron Margarita recipes!

Use clear ice

The best way to make a margarita on the rocks? Use clear ice. Clear ice is artisanal ice that is crystal clear and can be cut into beautiful organic shapes. It’s the best way to take a cocktail from good to glamorous!

You can make your own clear ice at home: all you need is a small cooler or clear ice tray. Make up a batch 1 day in advance: go to How to Make Clear Ice for details!

Margarita Recipe

There are many variations on the classic margarita! While the classic remains our favorite, there are lots of great ways to mix up the formula. Here are a few more variations to try:

This margarita recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Print
Margarita recipe

Best Margarita


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink

Description

Here’s how to make the classic margarita recipe! It’s easy with just 3 ingredients: tequila, lime, and orange liqueur.


Ingredients

  • 1 ½ ounces tequila blanco or reposado*
  • 1 ounce Cointreau or Triple Sec
  • ¾ ounce fresh lime juice
  • Kosher salt or flaky sea salt, for the rim
  • Lime wedge, for the garnish

Instructions

  1. Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of salt. 
  2. Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes and shake until cold.
  3. Strain the margarita into the glass with the salted rim. Fill the glass with ice and serve.
  4. For a margarita pitcher (8 servings): Place 1 ½ cups tequila, 1 cup Cointreau or Triple Sec, and ¾ cup lime juice in a pitcher. Add 3 handfuls ice and stir until cold. Pour into the prepared glasses. 
  • Category: Cocktail
  • Method: Shaken
  • Cuisine: Cocktail
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Margarita, margarita recipe, margarita ingredients, how to make a margarita

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.